Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Friday November 16, 2007

CLEANUP PART II 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

This is a clarification. The oil clean up events described in my Nov. 13 article “By Any Means Necessary” took place over the weekend, prior to the availability of officially sanctioned training. At this point, I urge all interested volunteers to try and get into one of the official sessions. 

But that said, it’s a shame these training were not offered immediately after the spill. In the early days it was quite easy to get large quantities of oil out of harm’s way, with little fuss or special equipment. With each passing day the tar balls are breaking into smaller pieces, getting harder, getting tangled in debris, or stuck on rocks, and requiring a much more intense and messier cleanup. Joggers and dogs have returned to these partially cleaned beaches, mashing the oil deeper into the sand, and tracking it onto the Bay Trail (and then back into our community). 

If you’re not cleaning up the oil, please stay away from it. Oil is on every beach, and every part of the shore, though it’s not always apparent at first glance. 

And remember: The Cosco Busan brought tons of inexpensive consumer goods to our stores. Chances are you bought something from the ship this week. 

Bryce Nesbitt 

Kensington 

 

• 

BUNKER FUEL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Like many other Berkeley residents, I went down to the Marina to see the oil slicks and the dirty sea birds. It was depressing. But I don’t think I want to sign any petition to ban bunker fuel. The accident wasn’t caused by the oil, but by radar failure and control confusion on the ship’s bridge, abetted by fog. 

Freighter watching is a hobby of mine. I ride the 63 bus out to the Alameda Ferry Terminal, where there’s a good view of container ships at the docks. I’ve seen plenty of ships like Cosco Busan come and go, bringing low-priced goods from across the Pacific and carrying our goods over there. The passage across the bay and under the bridge is not terribly dangerous, but it does require careful attention. 

Yes, bunker fuel is cheap, and yes, it’s dirty. But if we want to require the container ships to use a higher grade fuel, we will drive up the costs of those trans-Pacific goods we so enjoy. And we could still spill the higher-grade fuel. 

We are willing to tolerate tanker trucks going at high speed on our highways, even after a major accident. We are willing to tolerate diesel trucks idling at the Oakland docks. 

We are willing to tolerate a huge number of cars on our roads, carrying only the driver. We resist riding public transit. Some of us don’t want to expand public transit if it involves any loss of parking or car lanes.  

We can’t bring ourselves to fully ban cigarette smoking. We are content with having high-fat meals available in our fast-food restaurants. 

I think we may as well put up with the bunker fuel and the container ships. They are part of the lifestyle we want to lead. 

Steve Geller 

 

• 

REPEATING HISTORY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Spanish-speaking immigrants all around us. The ones doing the menial jobs that most Americans don’t want to, or don’t have the time to do, are the descendants of what once was the world-class Spanish Empire. What happened to this center of culture, wealth and power? Spain’s overreaching military ambition with the then-unbeatable Spanish Armada failed; that broke its military and its bank.  

Recent news informs us a record-breaking loss of American lives has been racked-up in Iraq this year, and in a different story, Bush’s administration of our government has slumped us to an all-time, mind-boggling, record-breaking national debt of $9 trillion.  

Those who don’t know history, George, are doomed to repeat it. Those in Congress who enable Bush’s ignorant policies doom us all.  

Bruce Joffe 

Piedmont 

 

• 

A MATTER OF CHOICE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

This is a reply to Jerry Landis who wrote in Nov. 13 Daily Planet that there are more unhealthy things than cell phone antennas. For instance, he wrote putting a cell phone next to your ear; I have the choice not to do that and I do not do so. He wrote breathing near Center and Shattuck; I do not have to be there. He wrote eating a burger and fries; I have the choice not to eat them. He wrote standing near your microwave oven; I do not have such an oven. He wrote drinking Coke; I do not drink such beverages. He wrote voting for Republicans; I have the choice to vote for Cindy Sheehan.  

For all the things he wrote in his letter, I have the choice to do what I wish. One thing Mr. Landis does not understand is that people who do not use cell phones will be bombarded by radiation. They do not have the choice to avoid this radiation. The keyword is choice, sir. Using a cell phone is an artificially created need that fits very well with consumer societies. One thing I know is that I do not wish to be irradiated since others like to talk nonsense on their cell phones. Perhaps, you can put a set of antennas on your roof, Mr. Landis. 

Helena Bautin 

 

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AC TRANSIT NO. 19 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

If you’re concerned about the operation of the 19 line on Cedar Street and believe that residents along the Cedar corridor have a right to bus service, please come to a meeting being held by AC Transit at the North Berkeley Senior Center on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. and speak in favor of the operation of the line on weekends and weekdays. 

The Sierra Club is supporting the full operation of this line on Cedar Street on weekdays and weekends. Some residents do not want the bus to operate on Cedar St. and have sued AC Transit in the past in order to stop the service. Please come to the joint meeting on Thursday to speak in support of the No. 19 bus line if you can. 

Len Conly 

 

• 

BUS RAPID TRANSIT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I was sad to see that rather than advance the discussion on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Berkeley/Oakland, Charles Siegel chose to attack my intelligence, or lack thereof. Sad yes, but not surprised. This seems to be standard operating procedure these days in the Bay Area; attacking the person rather than just agreeing to disagree. 

For those readers who are bit more open-minded, my bona fides are as follows: I have worked 15 years in the transit industry. I’ve been a conductor at Amtrak, and a bus operator at VTA and AC Transit. I’ve been in the trenches working with the public, not behind a computer screen. Does Mr. Siegel have more experience than I? As much? Any? 

My observations were based on operating a bus on the routes of the proposed BRT, having seen the traffic when a small portion is blocked by road work or something as simple as a delivery truck. 

My dislike of transit experts stems from the simple fact that neither I, nor any of my coworkers I’ve spoken with, have ever had any of these experts actually ride the bus with us and ask our opinions. No “study” or computer simulation can match actually being in the bus. Those readers who ride the bus regularly should ask their operators if they’ve ever been consulted as to route changes, traffic patterns etc. 

I am a believer in mass transit, and not just because I earn my living in it. But I also believe that the overriding goal of any mass transit project should be to move the greatest number of people at the lowest possible cost, and to not cause such pain to people who must drive (and yes there are people who must drive), business owners ,etc., that there is a backlash against future transit projects. 

I think that this issue could be put to rest with very little cost. Take some moveable barriers and block off the two center lanes from say Telegraph and Ashby to Telegraph and 40th Street and International and Fruitvale to International and High Street. Then actually observe the traffic in real time before hundreds of millions of dollars are spent. 

Dean Lekas 

 

• 

DEMOCRACY 101:2 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

A lot of people have it stuck in their head that this is a Republic, but not a Democracy. I wonder how many of you believe that. I wonder how many times the city attorney has told you that. In any case it is not true. Decisional law is still on our side. It was established narrowly, with dissents from the right-wingers on the court. Indeed, it is the responsibility of the Supreme Court to define such a matter of constitutional law. Here is the declaration that is now settled law on this matter: 

From U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton (1995) 779, 821: 

As Chief Justice John Marshall observed: “The government of the union, then, . . . is, emphatically, and truly, a government of the people. In form and in substance it emanates from them. Its powers are granted by them, and are to be exercised directly on them, and for their benefit.” McCulloch v. Maryland, 4 Wheat., at 404-405. 31 Ours is a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” —Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address (1863).  

This is not just a matter of conceit or a lot of hot air, although it might sound that way. It actually intends to establish that, even though it is not spelled out in the Constitution, Democracy is implicit throughout that document. It does not mean to say, in the Bushian/Orwellian/Albuquerqueian sense, that no matter how fascistic or anti-democratic the government actually becomes, it is nonetheless to be regarded as perfect in our own estimation. It is sad that this even has to be stated, but of course it does, because we are now living in a thoroughly Orwellian era wherein such idiocies are now commonplace. Just lift that cell phone up to your ear and you will know immediately what I am talking about. You will feel like a different person—take our word for it. 

Peter Mutnick 

 

• 

ANIMAL WELFARE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Californians have a long history of supporting reasonable animal welfare reforms, and citizens now have a chance to take a further step toward that goal by qualifying and then passing a ballot initiative—the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act—to stop the most inhumane treatment of animals raised for food. 

This moderate measure merely requires that animals on farms be allowed to turn around and extend their limbs. On industrial-type factory farms, even this most basic standard of humane treatment is often violated. This ballot measure will prevent three of the most extreme forms of confinement in animal agribusiness: veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs. 

Californians for Humane Farms is in the process of collecting 650,000 signatures to qualify the measure for the November 2008 ballot. California citizens can help by visiting www.HumaneCalifornia.org and signing up to volunteer. Even animals raised for food deserve humane treatment. 

Wayne Pacelle 

President and CEO 

The Humane Society of the United States 

Washington, D.C. 

 

• 

ROBERSTON, GUILIANI 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Why Pat Robertson’s endorsement of Rudy Guiliani for president? Birds of a feather flock together. Guiliani was busy committing adultery (Isn’t that why evangelicals hate the Clintons), getting divorced for the third time and rooming with a gay couple. Pat Robertson, religious icon of the fundamentalist right, blamed Hurricane Katrina on America’s wanton ways—urged the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez—and said that liberal judges are a greater threat to America “than a few bearded terrorists who fly (planes) into buildings.” 

The Republican base is composed of anti-abortionists, anti-gay activists and social conservatives. Both Guiliani and Robertson want to retain power and the White House at any cost, so the meeting of minds and the bending of conventions. 

Ron Lowe  

Grass Valley 

 

• 

ABAG’S DEVASTATING  

IMPACT ON BERKELEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I stand corrected by Revan Tranter, former executive director of ABAG (Nov. 9). ABAG didn’t “loan” Patrick Kennedy $72 million for apartment buildings which he sold for $150 million to a mega-corporation. ABAG was merely the issuer of the debt instruments (loans).  

I’d like to remind (or inform) people of the pattern of corruption surrounding this complex money-funneling venture. As reported in a letter to this newspaper in 2003, then-Zoning Officer Mark Rhoades signed a document stating that all permits had been obtained for the Touriel Building—prior to the hearing at which said permits were to be approved. This was done in order to enable Kennedy to secure, by the relevant deadline, financing issued (but not loaned) by ABAG. 

At the time, Kennedy was widely believed to have bought influence over our City Council through campaign contributions. It is rumored that he openly declared, “I bought ‘em fair and square.” 

Some Berkeley citizens tried to figure out the approval process for the financing of his projects. The loans were apparently approved at meetings which were noticed only in a newspaper that could not be purchased anywhere in Berkeley. We learned this too late to be able to inform the decision makers about what was occurring in Berkeley.  

I hope that Mr. Tranter will try to encourage ABAG’s financial experts to approve funding for worthy institutions like Lifelong Medical Center (which actually helps people), rather than for developers who will simply unload the projects to corporations, and pocket the profit. 

Gale Garcia 

 

• 

IMPEACH CHENEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On April 24, U.S. Representative and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich introduced H. Res. 333, calling for the impeachment of Vice President Richard B. Cheney for committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” in violation of Article II, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution. The bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and languished there. Isn’t it time to put impeachment back on the table? The text of the articles of impeachment and the supporting evidence can be found at Kucinich’s website: http://kucinich.house.gov. 

HR 333 charges that Cheney manipulated the intelligence process to fabricate a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and a relationship between al Qaeda and Iraq to justify the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and has openly threatened aggression against Iran without any real threat to the United States. HR 333 does not include charges relating to Cheney’s role in drafting the permissive standards on torture, his role in the illegal rendition program whereby detainees were transferred to foreign countries for torture, the outing of Valerie Plame, or his role in the illegal NSA spying scandal, which he has vigorously defended.  

Why articles of impeachment against Cheney and not Bush? Actually, most of us believe that Cheney has been the acting president all these years. If Bush were impeached, then Cheney would become president. However, as one jokester observed, if Cheney were impeached, that would make George Bush president. 

Isn’t it time for our politicians and the public to have real, open debate about the worst presidency in U.S history? Kucinich’s articles of impeachment are an excellent place to start. 

Ralph E. Stone 

San Francisco 

 

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SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS, OR SCHOOL OF THE ASSASSINS? 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On hearing the name “School of the Americas,” it’s understandable that many people will assume that this refers to an educational institution of high academic standards. Nothing could be further from the truth! The SOA is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Ga. Over its 59 years it has trained more than 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare. These graduates have used their skills to wage a war against their own people. The SOA, frequently dubbed the “School of Assassins” has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred by those trained at the School of Assassins. In Colombia and the Andean Region, our taxpayer money is paying to escalate a civil war and strengthen a military with a horrible human rights record.  

In 2001 SOA renamed itself the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” no doubt hoping to improve its image. But the trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned continues—i.e., on Feb. 21-22, 2005, eight members of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community in Uraba, Colombia, were brutally massacred. 

So the question is: Why in God’s name is our country condoning and 

supporting this brutal organization? Is there nothing we can do to stop the SOA and its ruthless disregard for human rights? Yes, my friends, there is something we can do. We can join the Father Bill O’Donnell Social Justice Committee in a candlelight vigil in solidarity with the SOA Watch protest of the teaching of torture at Ft. Benning. This simple remembrance of the many victims of the SOA will be held Sunday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison Street, Berkeley. Bring a candle and gather on the steps, joining others determined to bring down the School of Assassins! 

Dorothy Snodgrass 

 

• 

CAL AND BP 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am dismayed and disgusted to learn that the Energy Biosciences agreement was signed today between Cal and BP. As a third-generation Cal alum, my pride in our great public institution has just been kicked down a few notches. It seems unconscionable that I, a California taxpayer, will be barred from entering secret, locked, “proprietary research facilities” now being built on public lands. The signing of this agreement confirms how much significant sectors of Cal faculty and administrators are stuck in the thrall of their own prestige, paychecks, or the marketing expertise of the former Anglo-Persian Oil Company (est. 1909).  

Instead of trying to manipulate nature and science to squeeze ever more exploitation out of both, Prof. Somerville and his Institute should be dedicating themselves to questioning the root cases of our current energy crisis: over-consumption, and Western feelings of ownership over the earth’s abundance. This is the real academic inquiry, and may require collaboration with fields as broad as politics, environmental studies, sociology, economics, development studies, and philosophy. All resources should be brought to bear in considering why Americans consume so much and how we can learn to consume less (without exporting our bad habits around the world). If Cal’s scientists can answer these questions, they will have solved the energy crisis and provided a great service to humankind.  

Of course, this type of deeper research could prove challenging while in partnership with one of the world’s worst companies for environmental and human rights abuses. Questioning consumption is the ultimate taboo for a retail company like BP, which is why this fundamental issue is not addressed anywhere in the 114-page agreement. I regret that my university has chosen sales over scholarship at this crucial juncture in economic and environmental history. Finally, I wonder what the institute researchers and administrators plan to buy with their big BP bonuses—new cars?? 

Nina Kahori Fallenbaum 

Cal alum 2000 

Tokyo, Japan 

 

• 

SHOP WITH A CONSCIENCE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The fast-approaching gift-giving season gives Berkeleyans a wonderful opportunity to support fair trade and justice. Dec. 1 and 2, the annual International Holiday Crafts Fair will feature beautiful items made by artisans working in development projects that improve the lives of people in Haiti, Afghanistan, El Salvador, Kenya, Kurdistan and many other nations. 

Many of the artisans are refugees, most working in cooperatives. Many are women, who are single heads of families. They often create crafts at home, earning a decent living while caring for their children. Our purchase of traditional artwork also helps to preserve indigenous cultures. 

Instead of giving mass-produced, corporate marketed items, this year we can make an active choice to reach out to help others, a powerfully positive way to shop, and at the same time to give more meaningful gifts to loved ones. 

The Fair takes place Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, at the First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way at Dana Street, Berkeley. ebsccraftsfair@yahoo.com. 

Melody Ermachild Chavis 

 

Will we outsource the National Monument, 

Or maybe our main White House occupant? 

With the barred Iron Curtain, 

Are we really certain 

We’ll ever regain our own government? 

 

—O.V. Michaelsen 

 

 

BERKELEY MARINA HAIKU 

Nov. 9-11, 2007 

 

White heron on rock— 

Does he contemplate oil sheen 

on water? Black globs? 

 

Hong Kong container 

ship spills oil into our Bay— 

cheap goods at high price. 

 

White pads in water 

soak up 58,000 

gals. of oil. Nice try. 

 

Gorgeous blue day, but 

not one white sailboat in sight. 

Only great ships move. 

 

If Monet lived here, 

he would die for light like this— 

white clouds, white oil tanks. 

 

Oiled bird in water 

twirls, trying to groom itself. 

We can only watch.  

 

—Judy Wells